Sophie Weißenberg is seriously injured just before the first start
Bitter Disappointment for Sophie Weißenberg at the Olympics: The heptathlete injures herself just before the start of the competition and cannot compete for positions. During her preparation for the first discipline, the 100m hurdles, the athlete from Leverkusen stumbled into an obstacle and fell.
Before the heptathlon at the Olympics even began, Sophie Weißenberg experienced a sporting tragedy. While warming up for the first discipline, the 100m hurdles, the 26-year-old apparently suffered a severe injury. As she jogged lightly, she tripped over the hurdle, lost her balance, and ended up on the track, writhing in pain and crying uncontrollably. Her shocked teammate Carolin Schäfer, who was scheduled to compete in the next race, was one of the first to reach her.
What a disaster for the athlete from Leverkusen, who was competing at the Olympics for the first time. All her training efforts were in vain, with not a single competitive second. Initial speculation suggests that Weißenberg may have torn her Achilles tendon, which would mean a long period of inactivity. "There's nothing worse in a sportswoman's life," said ARD expert Frank Busemann about the drama. After a few seconds, medical staff rushed to the German athlete. She was lifted onto a wheelchair and taken out of the stadium, covering her face with her hands and continuing to cry.
The 26-year-old's career has been marked by bitter moments. Despite not qualifying, the German Athletics Association took her to the 2019 World Championships, but she had to end her season early due to a persistent inflammation in her heel. Three years later, at the World Championships in Eugene, she had to withdraw from the long jump after three invalid attempts. A year later, however, she made a statement, finishing seventh at the European Championships in Budapest with a personal best of 6438 points, just 63 points behind the bronze medal.
At the European Championships in Rome in June, Weißenberg withdrew from the heptathlon as a precaution to protect her Olympic dream. She also couldn't finish the competition in Götzis last May after a fall over the hurdles. As a result, Germany is represented by only one athlete in the heptathlon: the former vice-world champion Schäfer, who will give her farewell performance in France. After the Olympics, the 32-year-old from Frankfurt will retire from her career.
Despite the setback at the Olympic Games 2024 in Paris seemingly being inevitable for Sophie Weißenberg, her resilience and determination have proven to be constant throughout her career. Regrettably, this unfortunate incident at the Olympic trials in July 2023 adds a tragic tale to her Olympic journey.
